Well cleaning tool



Sept. l0, 1940. J. J. SANTIAGO WELL CLEANING TOOL Filed Feb. 20, 1959 z 4 7 A5/A 7/1 af 4 4 i Il 7 ,F a. W w 0 n .9.x a a z o o o 46 4 678 7 @533 y 2n?, i @gaga 4 da 444 .n s f Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES WELL CLEANING TOOL James J. Santiago, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to John Grant, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 20, 1939, Serial No. 257,428

13 Claims' (Cl. 166-19) 'I'his invention relates generally to well cleaning tools of the hydrostatic pressure type, and the invention is applicable generally to devices of the type commonly known as cleaners which are operable above the bottom of a. well, and to devices commonly known as bailers which are commonly operated by contact with a bottom. However, for purposes of simplicity of description and for showing an illustrative adaptation 1o of the inventionto one specic use, the invention will be hereinafter described in connection with a bailer adapted to operate on a bottom or on an inserted plug or the like.

In certain of its aspects, the present invention embodies improvements upon the type of well cleaning tool or bailer shown in the patents to Erwin and Sweet Nos. 2,059,629 and 2,133,383 dated November 3, 1936, and October 18, 1938, respectively, and the inventive objects and correspending accomplishments of the present invention may well be considered in comparison with the type of bailer shown in and forming the subject-matter of said patents.

There are many objects and corresponding accomplishments of the present invention, which will be understood best from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment; but I may preliminarily mention the objects of providing means whereby the discharge of the pressure chamber may be completely and effectively controlled, whereby a single opening serves both as a discharge opening and as an opening for insertion of the breakable disks, and, generally,

provisions for simplicity both of structure and of 30 operation. The means by which these and other objects of the invention are accomplished will be best understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference for such purposes being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal central section, showing the illustrative device with its parts in the relative position for insertion of the breakable disk or other removable closure.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing the parts in their position in which the tool is lowered in the well; and

Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the parts operated to remove the removable closure for the purpose of taking a charge, this ligure also showing a slight modification.

In the drawing the lower end of the low-pres- 55 sure charge-taking chamber, or a connective member which forms a part of that charge-taking chamber, is shown at I0. Its upper end is closed, as indicated in Fig. 3. The usual pressure relief and bleeding valves will be used as desired, but are not shown. Screw-threadedly at- 5 tached at II to chamber member l0 is a tubular connector member I2 having in its side wall the opening I3 which performs the ofce of a discharge opening and also serves for the insertion of the removable closure or sealing member 10 which is here shown in the form of the breakable disk Il. Broadly speaking, the connector member may be considered as a part of the upper chamber member I0, and the two together may broadly be considered as an upper portion of the 15 whole tubular body of the device. In its upper part the tubular connector member I2 has a screw-threadedly adjustable disk seat ring I5. This seat ring, threaded at I6 into the member I2 has its lower annular face I1 formed to pro- 20 vide a suitable sealing seat for the peripheral face I8 of disk Il and for the upper end of the tubular sleeve 2l in which the disk is carried. The seat ring I5 is threaded tightly into member I2 to preclude leakage, or any other suitable 25 sealing means may be used between parts I5 and I2.

'I'he disk I4 is carried in an annular recess 20 in the upper end of the tubular sleeve 2| whose lower end is threaded into a connective member 30 or coupling 22. The coupling 22 hasv an annular Vdownwardly facing shoulder 23 which, in effect,

engages an upwardly facing shoulder 24 which is formed on the inside of the lower end of the union coupling 25 whose function will shortly be 35 described. 'I'he upwardly facing shoulder 24 is preferably not completely annular, but is formed on the upper faces of lugs 26 whose discontinuity is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The purpose of this discontinuity is to afford egress for 40 mud or other contaminating substances that might otherwise lodge more or less permanently within the union coupling 25 and thus interfere with proper operation of the device. The union coupling 25 is also provided with wrench-receiv- 45 ing recesses, one of which is shown at 21. I have said that the shoulder 23 of coupling 22.in eiect rests upon the shoulder 24 of union coupling 25. I prefer to insert between these two shoulders a spring lock washer or ring 30 for the purpose of holding the union coupling 25 in its proper set position.

The upper part of union coupling 25 contains the internal coupling threads 3l, and the lower 55 end of tubular connector member I2 has corresponding coupling threads 22. In the drawing both these threads are shown as interrupted so that the connection between the threads may be accomplished with only a partial rotation; but the threads may be made continuous if so desired.

In the relative position shown in Fig. 1, with the threadsl and 32 uncoupled, the upper parts of the device, including the tubular connector member I2 may be raised to the position shown in Fig. 1. In that position, the'upper end of the sleeve 2| is about level with the bottom of opening I3. Further relative upward movement of member I2 is prevented by inter-engaging shoulders as shown at 35. In this position of the parts, the frangible disk I4 may be readily inserted through opening I2 to its position as shown in Fig. 1. When the trangible disk is thus inserted, then the upper parts of the device, including member I2, are moved down into engagement with the union coupling 25 and the union coupling is rotationally set up tightly to draw the member I2 down. The disk seat ring I 5 having been adjusted ln proper position, the annular seat 2Ia of member 2l is thus seated upwardly tightly against the seating face I1 of seat ring I5. A sealed connection between the upper and lower portions of the body of the device is thus formed. The tubular member 2l, the coupling 22, and the tubular parts which depend from the coupling may be considered as the lower portion of the tubular charge-taking body of the device. When the parts are in the position of Fig. 2, the peripheral portion of disk I4 is preferably not tightly clamped between seats I1 and 20, being preferably somewhat loose so as not to interfere with the setting up of a tight seal at the seat surfaces I1 and 2 Ia. When any pressure is placed on the under face of the disk I4 it is then pressed up against seat i1 to form a seal for the low pressure chamber in the upper body portion above the disk. 'I'his preferred arrangement provides a seal between the upper and lower parts of the body which does not depend on the thin portion of the disk for its sealing effectiveness, and therefore provides a seal which is still effective even though the rim of the disk as Well as its center may be broken away.

The lower end of coupling 22 is threadedly connected at 40 with a tubular valve housing 4I. A member 42 which is screw-threaded upwardly into the lower end of valve housing 4I has at its upper end a valve seat 43 on which the ball valve 44 is adapted normally to seat downwardly. The lower part of the member 42 has an enlarged internal bore 45 which receives the vertically reciprocable hammer plunger 4B whose vertical movement is limited by the transverse pin 41 extending through slots 48 in the hammer plunger. This hammer plunger has at its upper end a reduced portion 49 adapted to move up through the ball seating member 42 and to contact the ball to lift it oi its seat, as shown in Fig. 3. The exterior of the hammer plunger is grooved as indicated at 50 to provide for a washing :dow of fluid around the hammer to prevent its being frozen in the member 42. And the interior of the hammer plunger is hollow, as at 5I so as to provide, in conjunction with openings 52 in its head, a longitudinal fluid passage through the hammer plunger;

Preferably the hammer plunger, instead of itself directly contacting on the well bottom, has a tubular bottom shoe BB attached to its lower asunto end. This tubular bottom shoe is open at its lower end and also has side openings Il through its wall, and the effective areas of these side openings may be adjusted by rotary adjustment of an apertured ring B1 whose openings may be set to more or less fully register with the openings The foregoing describes an arrangement in which the plunger 4B is moved relatively upwardly by contact with a bottom. But any other suitable means may be used to actuate that plunger upwardly, either for bailing operations or for cleaning operations. As an instance of operating means which may be used for cleaning functions above the well bottom, reference may be had to such prior patents as Erwin 2,059,631. November 3, 1936. and Santiago 2,098,520, November 9, 1937, which show suitable and typical means of actuating a closure removing member upwardly by virtue of means operated by contact with the wall of the hole.

Above check valve ball 44, resting at its lower end thereon, and slidable vertically through the sleeve 2l and coupling member 22, I provide a vertically reciprocable plunger BI). As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 this plunger is tubular and has a head formation BI at its lower end adapted to rest on ball 44 and containing passages 8,2 which provide for fluid passage throughout the length of the tubular plunger. 'I'he upper end of this tubular plunger is provided with a head 63 which preferably has serrations 44 adapted to facilitate breakage of the disk I4. The lower head BI of the plunger has an upwardly facing shoulder 68 which, contacting shoulder B1 of member 4I, limits the upward movement of the plunger and of ball 44. In its normal lower position, resting on ball 44 when the ball is on its seat, the upper end of the disk breaking plunger ls a short distance below the disk. as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form oi' the disk breaking plunger. Although the tubular plunger has clearance in parts 2| and 22 it may be apt to be frozen by deposited mud, etc. In Fig. 3 the plunger 60a is in the form of a. rod with a guiding spider Sla at its lower end and a hollow head-63a at its upper end also provided with a guiding spider 63h and perforated as at 83o to allow free fluid flow past and through the head. The operation of both forms oi' plunger is the same.

Fig. 2 shows the relative positions of the parts when the tool is prepared for lowering in the well. In this condition the low pressure chamber in member I0 and the parts above it contains air at atmospheric pressure, and the chamber is sealed by the sealing disk I4. When the device reaches the well bottom, or when for any reason or by any means the hammer 48 is moved relatively upwardly, the ball 44 is raised oiI its seat, raising the disk breaking plunger 80, and breaking the disk. This condition is shown in Fig. 3. The hydrostatic pressure in the well forces the well fluid, or mud or other substances. through the openings in shoe l5 and upwardly through the hammer plunger 48, thence upwardly around the check valve .ball 44, and thence upwardly past the breaker plunger 8l, into the chamber above the broken disk. Immediately pressures are equalized between that chamber and the well. or immediately the device is raised. the parts 46, 44 and l0 fall again to the relative positions shown in Fig. 2, the check valve 44 again seating. 'I'he check valve then operates toretain above it all of the charge which is then contained within the whole tubular body including both the upper and lower portions of that body. And it will be seen that this chargeholding chamber is tightly sealed against leakage because the upper end of the sealing sleeve 2|, which is a part of the lower body portion, is still tightly sealed against the seat ring I5, which is a. part of the upper portion of the body.

Functionally the plunger 60 or 60a may be considered as if it were apart of or an upward projection from the ball valve 44, as it moves directly with the valve. It is mainly for convenience of design and construction that the plunger is relatively long and made as a piece separate from the valve.

Upon reaching the surface, the charge may be discharged in either one of two manners, or both. By setting the lower end of the device down on any suitable support, the hammer member 46 may again be raised to the relative position shown in Fig. 2, unseating the check ball 44 to any extent desired. As before stated there is usually some pressure still retained in the charge-holding chamber, and that pressure forces the charge out. If that pressure is not sufiicient to force out the charge, or the whole of it, means are usually provided in devices of this type for opening a bleeder at the top of the charge chamber to prevent formation of a vacuum. On raising the check ball 44, the charge starts flowing out through the same passages through which it entered the device.

The whole charge may be discharged in the manner just described, or preferably the excess pressure may be discharged in that manner. In any case, as soon as the excess pressure is discharged, then the union coupling at 3|. 32 may be disconnected and the upper part of the device hoisted to the relative position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the seal between the sealing sleeve 2| and the seat ring I5 is broken, and the opening I3 is uncovered. Thus the major part of the contained charge may then pass out through the opening I3; and if excess pressure has been discharged before I3 is opened, then the whole charge may quickly pass out through I3 without being under pressure. What remains of the charge below the level of opening I3 may of course be drained past the check ball 44. And then, while the parts of the device are in the relative position shown in Fig. 1, the remains of the broken disk I4 may be cleaned out and a new disk inserted ready for setting the device up to the position of Fig. 2 to be run again.

I claim:

l. A well tool of the character described, comprising a tubular body one end portion of which forms a low pressure chamber, a removable closure in the body defining an end wall of said low pressure chamber, avcheck valve within the tubular body spaced from the chamber closure toward the other end of the body, said valve opening to pass fluid in a direction toward the closure and closing to prevent fluid flow in the opposite direction, means for moving the check valve in its opening direction, and means actuated by the check valve moving in its opening direction to remove said closure.

2. A well tool of the character described, comprising a tubular body one end portion of which forms a low pressure chamber, a removable closure in the body defining an end wall of said low pressure chamber, a check valve within the tubular body spaced from the chamber closure toward the other end of the body, said valve opening to pass fluid in a direction toward the closure and closing to prevent iiuid iiow in the opposite direction, means to move the check valve in its opening direction, and a longitudi nally passaged plunger reciprocable in the body between the check valve and the closure, adapted to be moved by opening movement of the check valve and by said movement to remove the closure.

3. A well tool of the character described, comprising a tubular body whose upper portion forms a low pressure chamber, a removable closure in the body defining the lower end wall of said low pressure chamber, the body having an upwardly facing check valve seat spaced below the closure, a check valve seating downwardly on said seat to close off the downward passage of uid through the body, reciprocable means in the body below the check valve and adapted by upward movement 'to raise the valve off its seat, and a longitudinally passaged plunger in the body between the check valve and closure resting on the check valve and adapted to be lifted by its upward movement to engage and remove the closure.

4. A well tool of the character described, comprising a tubular body which includes two relatively longitudinally movable portions with op posing ends, one of said body portions adapted to form a. low pressure chamber, the OppOsing ends of the body portions havingr opposing seats, a removable closure adapted to be held between the opposing ends of said portions, releasable means for holding the body portions in opposition with the closure between them, a check valve in the body adapted to prevent fluid flow therethrough in a direction away from the low pressure chamber, and means within the body adapted to be actuated to remove said closure.

5. A well tool of the character described, comprising a tubular body which includes two relatively longitudinally movable portions with opposing ends, one of said body portions adapted to form a low pressure chamber, the opposing ends of the body portions having opposing seats, a removable closure adapted to be held between the opposing ends of said portions, releasable means for holding the body portions in opposition with the closure between them, said last mentioned means including a tubular member lattached to one portion of the body, extending longitudinally over the opposing seated ends of said body portions, and having an opening in its side wall through which a closure may be inserted onto one of the body portion ends, a check valve in the body adapted to prevent uid ow therethrough in a direction away from the low pressure chamber, and means within the body adapted to be actuated to remove said closure.

6. A well tool of the character described, comprising a tubular body which includes two relatively longitudinally movable portions with opposing ends, one of said body portions adapted to form a low pressure chamber, the opposing ends of the body portions having opposing seats, a removable closure adapted to be held between the opposing ends of said portions, releasable means for holding the body portions in opposition with the closure between them, a-check valve in the other body portion, closing by movement in a direction away from the low pressure chamber and the removable closure, means for moving the check valve in an opening direction, and reciprocable means in the body between the check valve and the closure and adapted to' be moved by opening movement of the check valve to remove the closure.

7. A well tool oi' the character described. comprising a tubular Abody which includes two relatively longitudinally movable portions with opposing ends, one oi said body portions adapted to form a low pressure chamber,'the opposing ends oi' the body portions having opposing seats, a removable closure adapted to be held between the opposing ends of said portions, releasable means for holding the body portions in opposition with the closure between them, a check valve in the other body portion, closing by movement in a direction away from the low pressure chamber and the removable closure, means for moving the check valve in an opening direction, and reciprocable means in the body between the check valve and the closure and adapted to be moved by opening movement oi' the check valve to remove the closure, said last mentioned means comprising a tubular plunger.

8. A well tool oi' the character described, comprising a tubular body which includes two relatively longitudinally movable portions with opposing tubular body comprising two separable portions with opposing ends. one of said body portions adapted to form a low pressure chamber, the opposing ends of the body portions having opposing seats, a removable closure adapted to be held between the opposing ends oi said portions, releasable means for holding the body portions in opposition with the closure between them, said last mentioned means including a tubular member attached to one portion of the body, extending longitudinallybver the opposing seated ends of said body portions, and having an opening in its side wall through which a closure may be inserted onto one of the body portion ends, a check valve in the other body portion, closing by movement in a direction away from the low pressure chamber and the removable closure, means for moving the check valve in an opening direction, and reciprocable means in the body between the check valve and the closure and adapted to 4be moved by opening movement of the check valve to remove the closure.

9. A well tool of the character described comprising a tubular body having an upper portion closed at its upper end, said upper portion having at its lower end a tubular coupling member and the coupling member having an opening in its side wall, a downwardly facing annular seat mounted in the coupling member, a lower tubular body portion having on its upper end an upwardly facing -annular seat, union means adapted in cooperation with the coupling member to draw the two body portions together endwise, a removable closure disk adapted to seat on the body seats and to be held between them when drawn together, an upwardly opening check valve in the body acting to prevent downward fluid flow therethrough, and means for removing the removable closure.

10. A well tool of the character described comprising a tubular body having an upper portion closed at its upper end, said upper portion having at its lower end a tubular coupling member and the coupling mem-ber having an opening in its side wall, a downwardly facing annular seat mounted in the coupling member to be vertically adjustable therein, a lower tubular body portion having on its upper end-an upwardly facing annular seat, union means adapted in cooperation with the coupling member to draw the two body portions together endwise, a removable closure disk adapted to seat on the body seats and to be held between them when drawn together, an upwardly opening check valve in the lowerbody portion below the removable closure and acting to prevent downward iluid flow through the body, means for raising the check valve, and means within the body between the check valve and the closure adapted to remove the closure by virtue of upward opening movement of the check valve.

11. A well tool oi' the character described, comprising a tubular body one end portion of which forms a low pressure chamber, a removable closure in the body defining an end wall of said low pressure chamber, a check valve element within the tubular body spaced from the chamber closure toward the other end oi the body, said valve element opening by movement toward the closure to pass fluid through the body in a direction toward the closure and closing by movement in the opposite direction to prevent fluid flow in the opposite direction, and means within the body movable with the check valve element in the first mentioned direction and adapted by said movement to remove the closure.

12. A well tool of the character described, comprising a tubular body which includes two relatively longitudinally movable portions with opposing ends, one oi said body portions adapted to form a low pressure chamber, the opposing ends of the body portions having opposing seats, a removable closure adapted to be held between the opposing ends of said portions, releasable means for holding the body portions in opposition with the closure between them, and means within the body adapted to be actuated to remove said closure.

13. A well tool of the character described, comprising a tubular body which includes two relatively longitudinally movable portions with opposing ends, one of said body portions adapted to form a low pressure chamber, the opposing ends of the body portions having opposing seats, a removable closure adapted to be held between the opposing ends of said portions, releasable means for holding the body portions in opposition with the closure between them, said last mentioned means including a tubular member attached to one portion of the body, extending longitudinally over the opposing seated ends oi said body portions, and having an opening in its side wall through which a closure may be inserted onto one of the body portion ends, and means within the body adapted to be actuated to remove said closure.

JAMES J. SANTIAGO.

CERTIFICATE or coRREcTioN.

Patent No. 12,21%550. september-'10, 191m.

JAMES Y J. SANTIAGO It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification` of the above nmnbered patent requiring lcorreotion as follows: Page 1|., first coumn, lines 25 and 2h., strike out the words tubular body comprising two separable portions with opposing" and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may'conform to the record of the case in the AIEatent Office.

Signed and' sealed this 15th day of October, A. D; 19140.

Henry Van Arsdale y (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

